Life in the Andes Moutains

In this article we answer the question what is like living in the Andes Mountains. The Andes Mountains are located in South America, the Andes have 4 main elevation zones: the Tierra Caliente, the Tierra Templada, the Tierra Fria, and The Tierra Helada.

The people of the Andes Mountains plant crops depending on their elevation zones. In th Tierra Caliente they grow bananas, bamboo, and sugar cane because they all do well in a hot climate. In the Tierra Templada they plant coffee, corn, wheat, and flowers because the climate is cool. The Tierra Fria is cold and frosty so they grow corn, barley, wheat, potatoes, apples, and pears. The Tierra Helada is too cold to grow anything at all but they heard llamas there. Juan from Tierrra Fria says," when we make terraces it helps us use land we didnt have before."

People also base their houses off their elevation zones. People in the Tierra Caliente live in houses that easily catch the breeze and are on stilts to prevent flooding. In Tierra Templada people live in adobe brick houses and haciendas. People in the Tierra Fria live in adobe brick houses to keep the warm air in and cold air out. Tierra Helada they live next to mines for easy access to work. Jose says,"Since I live in the Tierra Fria it is always cold so I live in a brick house to keep the warm air in and the cold air out."

The clothes they wear depend on the elevation zone and climate, in the Tierra Caliente people wear light clothing because it is so hot and humid, in the Tierra Templada it is cool and mild so people can wear warmer clothing for the cool mornings and afternoons and light clothing for the warm day. In the Tierra Fria and Tierra Helada the climate is very cold so they wear heavy clothing. Carlos says," Since I live in the Tierra Fria I have developed larger lungs because of the thin air."

The people of the Andes Mountains have adapted based on what elevation zone they live in. They farm crops that do well in their climate, build homes to based on their climate, and wear clothes based on their climate.